Control mechanism



June 3o, 1942. w; ,1 RAY t 2,288,300

CONTROL MECH/msu Filed Jan. 13, 1941 -s sheets-sheet 1 200 0017 We wife/'5:7217' v [,W 5 pfff/1057217- l r. O F311 '/I? 6L 66K [01V IAAGE 01ml z aaswncf a-c-Al J'. `l 1 12F/f a. 47445 47464547 46 4l 47 4f 1235 @ZTI ,$44627 Q 65 WA4/AMA @AK f/vz/f/vroe;

W. A. RAY y CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1941 A TTOQ/YEK June 30, 1942.

.Filed Jan. 13, 1941 w. A. RAY 2,288,300

CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MLU/w ,4. @AK

/M/E/Yroe;

A TTOQ/YE K l Patented June 3i), 1942 i I UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHANISM William A. Ray, Glendale, Calif.

Application January 13, 1941, Serial No. 374,303

i Claims. (Cl. 200-33) My present invention relates to control mechanisms and more particularly to a mechanism for controlling automatic coal stokers.

A general object of my invention is to provide means for periodically operatingthe Stoker so as to maintain the fire, as well as means for operating the Stoker automatically in accordance with the heating requirements.

.Another object is to provide oscillating means which is effective .to operate switching means for the stoker only when a predetermined condition exists, and means for rendering the oscillating means ineffective when the switching means has .been operated and while the condition still exists.

Another object is the provision of means for controlling the operation ofthe stoker, which means are energizable by a minute amount of electric power, such as that produced by an ordinary thermocouple, so that simple "floating contact actuating means may be employed in the control circuit.

Another object is to provide means associated with the control device for generating the power required for its energization.

Another object is the provision of simple and effective means for varying the duration of the periodic operation of the Stoker.

Another object is the provisionof means for preventing over-stoking of the furnace, which means is eiective to prevent a periodic operation of the stokei` in the event that the same has been automatically operated in accordance with the heating requirements during the interval preceding that period. v I

Other objects and advantages oi the invention will be found in the description, the drawings, and the appended claims.

For complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure i. is a diagrammatic view cfa stoker control system embodying my invention;

Figure'2 is a `fragmentaryview of a modied arrangement of the system shown in Fig. l;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a still further modified Stoker control system embodying my invention;

Figures 4,-5, 6 and 'l are diagrammatic views of diierent means for providing the low voltage source of direct current indicated by the rectan- I Y gle and legend in Figs. 1 and 3;

Figure 8 is anl end elevation of a practical embodiment of the control device shown in Fig. 1; Figure 91s a fragmentary sectional view of the device lshown in Fig. 8, taken along Vthe line 9--9 of Fig. 10 g Figures 10, 1i and 12 are similar front elevations of the device,A of Fig. 8,Y the parts being shown in the figures in various positions which they assume in operation; and

Figures 13 and 14 are similar front elevations, showing the parts in moved positions, of a modifled form of the device shown in Figs. 8-12.

Referring iirst to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the n numeral I5 indicates a iirst movablemember or pivoted arm which carries on the underside of its free end a loosely mounted armature I6. AV

second movable membervor pivoted arm il carand inwardly biased by a tension spring 2S con-` ries on its free end an electromagnet generally indicated at I8 and comprising a KLJ-shaped coreI I9 and an energizing windingor coil 20. A cam 2l, driven at a constant speed of, say, one revolution per minute by an electric clock motor in-K dicated by the legend, moves the first arm I5, which is gravity biased, toward and away from the second arm I'I so that the armature I6 in its downward movement periodically engages the pole faces of the core I9. The coil 20 is connected by wires 22, 23 and 24 in series with a source of low voltage direct current and a thenmostat vresponsive to the temperature of the space heated by the Stoker, both of these devices being indicated by legends. If the electromagnet I8 is unenergized, the periodic movement of arm I5 has no effect on arm I l. If however, when thearmature engages the` core, the coil circuit is complete through the thermostat, upon subsequent upward movement of arm I5 the second arm Il is moved therewith the armature being magnetically held to the core.

The amount, of `electrical energy required to magnetically hold the armature in engagement with the core against the gravity bias of arm 4I1 is very small, being in a practical embodiment of the device in the order of one milliwatt. With such a small amount o power it is not possible to magnetically move the parts through space and such action is not proposed. It is lirst necessary to bring the armature mechanically into close engagement with the core `and for this reason the armature is loosely mounted on the arm so that its surface is Afree to adjust itself to that of the core.j "1. A latch member 25, pivoted at its upper end nected to its lower end, is normally held in the inoperative position shownl by the engagement of 'an extended end portion 2l of arm il with an inclined surface 28 of the latch member, the

weight of armI1 and the electromagnet I8 overcoming the force of spring 26. When, the elec-- tion of this arm, engages a fixed contact element 32, Itherebyconnecting by wires 33, 34 and 35` fore the voltage across the clock motor is high a stoker motor in circuit with the power line', 'as

indicated by the legends, to operate the stoker.

Arm I1 remains in its raised position1 closing the stoker motor contacts, until electromagnet I8 is' deene'rgiz'ed by opening of the thermostat contacts` due to-increase in room temperature, whereupon arm- I1 lfalls by gravity, opening the sistance of a relatively powerful motor 'such as is capable of operating a stoker is very low with respect to that of a. clock-type motor and thereenough to operate it Iat normal speed. For ther same'reason, the voltage across the stoker motor when it is in series with the clock motor is so low that the stoker motor is not operated, When, upon energization of the'electromagnet, arm I1 is raised so that the Stoker motor contacts engage, the clock motor is stoppedjts circuit being shorted by the contacts. Thus the parts remain in contact-closing position until deenergization of the electromagnet permits arm I1 to drop, whereupon operation of. the'clock motor is resumed. Under some conditions, a suitable stoker motor circuit and, by the impingement of its end portion 21 on the inclined surface 28 of the latch member, tripping the latch so that arm I is again free to move under the influence of cam 2l.

Also driven by the clock motor, at ay speed of, say', one revolution per hour, is a cam 36 against the suriacefof which the free end of a pivoted arm 31 is urged by a tension' spring 33. Connected in lparallel with the thermostat contacts is a movable contact 39 carried by arm 31 and a vfixed. contact 40. As the cam 3`6 rotates it reaches a position in which arm` 31 is free to vrnove upward toward the cut-away portion of the cam, thus closing contacts 39 and 40.

tacts and consequently when armature I6 is subsequently brought into engagement fwith the 'Ihis has the same effect as. closing the thermostat con-y electromagnet core by the movement of cam 2l,

the stoker control system is operated as hereinf above described, Thus the `stolrer is periodically operated, regardless of the heating requirements, to prevent dying-out of the re. The duration of the period in which contacts^39 and 40 remain closed is determined by the shape of the cam.

in Fig. 2, modified means are disclosed for retaining arms l5 and I1 in the positions to which they are .raised by cam` 2t when the electromagnet is energized. The latch member is omitted and a 'slip-clutch 4I is pr vided between the clock motor and cam 2i. 'lnis clutch is so adiusted that suiicient power is transmitted to cam 2i to enabie it to lift the arms, but when additional load is put on the cam by the engagement of contacts 3l and 32, movement of the cam is arrested while slippage of the clutch perv ,mits continued rotation of the clock motor shaft.

Thus the parts remain in the positions shown untilA deenergization of the electromagnet permits arm l1 to drop, whereupon cam ZI is again rotated through the slip-clutch.- A similar effect could also be produced by omitting the slipclutch and providing a clock motor of such limited power that it would stall when movement oi the arms was arrested by engagement of the stoker motor contacts.

Ir Pig. 3 I have shown still further modified means for arresting the movement of the control members when contacts 3l and 32 engage. The clock motor, instead of being connected directly to the power line as in Fig. 1, is connected by wires 42 in parallel with the .stoker motor contacts. When these contacts are disengaged, the clock motor is thus connected to the line in series with the stoker motor. The electrical relow-resistance relay may preferably be connected in series with the clock motor and the line in place of the stok-er motor itself, the relay in turn controlling the stokermotor. If periodic stokingin`clependent of the thermostatic control, is required, the periodic or hour cam is driven by a separate motor 43 connected directly to the p ower line, as shown, A result similar to 'that produced inthe system of Fig. 3 can also be produced by connecting the clock motor to the power line through a normally-closed switch which is operated to open position by the lmovement of arm I1 to stop the clock motor when this arm is in stok'er-motor-contact-closing position.

While any source of electric power may be `employed for the energization of the electro arcing at the thermostat or periodic contacts and consequently simple floating contact actuating means, whereby the contacts are gradually brought into engagement or separated, may satisfactorily be employed. I have therefore shown' in Figs. 4-7 suitable means for generating such electric power. t is to be borne in mind that,

as was pointed out hereinabove, the power required for the energization of the electrornagnety is only in the order of one milliwatt. In Fig. 4 is shown a thermocouple ring ccm prising a plurality of pairs of therrnccouple elements d5 and i6 of dissimilar metals or alloys interconnected at their "cold junction" ends by relatively massive elements 41 of metal having high heat conductivity and low electrical resistance, such as copper. A source of alternating current is connected to points of the ring about which the numbers ofpairs of thernocouple ele ments are equallyarranged, the alternating current passing through the parallel branches of the ring and thus heating the thermocouple elements 65 and to which offer greater resistance to current flow on account of their smaller size and greater specific resistance than do the copper elements d1. The elements 45 and 66 may preferably be of such alloys as Copel and Chromel, respectively. The adjoining ends, or hot junctions, of elements .45 and 4B are thus at a higher temperature than the opposite, or cold junction, ends of these elements which are connected to the relatively cool copper elements 41 and consequently current is generated which tends to ow in the direction of the arrows, ele-` ment d6 of Chromel being thermoelectrically positive. Connections for utilizing the generated directcurrent are made to the ring at opposite points of the branches equally spaced from the points at which the alternating Acurrent is connected. The direct current connection points thus being of equal alternating potential, no alternating current can ow in the direct current leads. The groups of series-connected thermocouples on opposite sides of the direct current connection points are in opposed relation and therefore no direct current flows in the ring until a load is connected to the direct current output leads, whereupon the generated current flows equally through the right andleft hand portions of the ring, as indicated by the arrows. Any even number of pairs of thermocouples may be provided in these portions as long as the proper alternating current and direct current balances are maintained. The thermocouple ring may conveniently be housed in a receptacle adjacent the clock motor and connected to the alternating current line -which supplies the clock motor.

In Fig. 5, the numeral 50 indicates the core of an electric motor, such as the clock motor shown in Figs. 1 and 3, surrounding a portion of whichl is an energizing coil 5|. Upon another portion of the core is a winding 52 consisting of a thermocouple ring similar to that shown in Fig. 4 and described above. In this arrangement, instead of connecting the ring directly to a source of alternating current, the current is electromagnetically induced in the ring by the alternating flux produced in the core.

In Fig. 6, the hot junction portions 54 of a thermopile 55 are buried in the windings of the clock motor coil 56 which coil is designed to operate at a relatively high temperature, the cold junctions 51 being extended to the atmosphere. The elements of this thermopile may preferably be of materials wherein a relatively large amount of current is generated Ywith small difference of junction temperaturasuch as bismuth and antimony.

In Fig. 7, the hot junctions 58 of a thermopile 59 are surrounded by a heating coil 68 which may be connected to the alternating current line.

Referring now to the practical embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 8-12, the numeral 65 indicates a base of insulating material, on the back of which is mounted an electrically operated motor 86, preferably of the synchronous clock type. Driven by this motor and extending to the front of the base through an opening therein is a shaft 61 rotating in a hollow shaft 68. The speeds of shafts 61 and 68 may conveniently be one revolution per minute, and one revolution per hour, respectively. Secured to shaft 61 is an excentric cam 89, and`to the hollow shaft 68 is a stepped cam 10.

Secured to the front surface of the base 65 is a U-shaped bracket 1| which provides support for vthe outer end of a rod 12, the inner end of which is threaded in the base. A first member or channeled arm 13, having at one end a pair of spaced dependent ear portions T4, is pivoted by these portions on rod 12. This arm is provided 'intermediate its ends with a roller which is normally held in engagement with the surface of cam 69 by a spring 16 tensioned between the arm and bracket 1|. Riveted to an outer portion of arm 13 is a pin 11 upon which is freely slidable a disk-shaped armature 18 which is urged away from the arm by a spring 19, the headed-over lower end of the pin limiting its downward movement.

Also pivoted on rod 12 is a second member or channeled arm 80 on which is rigidly mounted, by a screw 8|, a U-shaped electromagnet core 82 which carries on one of its arms an energizing coil 83, the flexible leads 84 of which are connected to terminals 85. This arm is downwardly biased into engagement` with a stop pin 86 by a spring 81 tensioned between an extended portion of the arm and the bracket 1|.

By the rotation of cam 89, arm 13 is moved alternately toward and away from arm 80. When arm 13 is in its downmost position, armature 18 rests in engagement with the pole faces of core 82, as shown in Fig. 10, spring 19 being slightly compressed. The armature being free to rock slightly on pin 19, accurate alignment of the contacting surfaces of the armature and the core is thus permitted. The upmost moved position of arm 13 is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 10. If core 82 is energized by passage of current through coil 83, after engagement of the armature with the core, subsequent upward movement of arm 13 carries arm 80 also upward, the armature being magnetically held to the core. As has previously been mentioned in connection with the diagrams of Figs. 1-3, magnetic attraction through space of the parts of the electromagnetic system is not proposed.

A latch member 88 having an inwardly bent U-shaped upper end portion 89 (Fig. 8) is pivoted by this portion in spaced relation to the base on a pin 99 secured in the base. Connected to the lower end of this member and urging it into engagement with a stop pin 9| is a spring 92. The latch member is normally held in the inactive position shown in Figs. l0 and 11 by the engagement of a roller 93, mounted on the free end of arm 80, with an inclined surface 94 of this member. When arm is raised, the latch mem.- ber'is permitted to move inwardly under the force of spring 92, so that when arm 13 reaches its upmost raised position, a roller 95 mounted on the end of this arm drops into a notch 96 formed in an upper portion of the latch member. Thus arm 13, and along with it arm 80, is heldin the raised position as cam 89 rotates, the arms remaining in their raised positions until current through the electromagnetic coil is interrupted, whereupon arm 80 falls under the force of spring 81, roller 93 in this movement impinging on the inclined surface 94 of the latch 4member and forcing the same outward so ythat arm 13 is again free to move under the influence of cam 69.

Also pivoted at one end on rod 12 is an arm 91 upon which is insulatingly mounted a con- |03 produces a force on arm 91 which, when these parts have moved olf center, imparts a snap-action to arm 91, bringing contacts 98 and 99 into sudden engagement. A corresponding snap-action is also imparted to arm 91. to open the contacts in the downward movement of arm 80, movement of arm 91 in' this direction being limited by its engagement with the stop pin 88.

Another arm |05, also pivoted at one end on rod 12, carries on vits downwardly bent end portion a roller |06 which normally rides on the surface of the stepped cam 10, the arm being urged to this position by a spring |01 compressed ing screw threaded ma bracket attached to the base. Wires ||2, respectively attached to brackets 1I and v| I I, provide means for electrically connecting contacts |08 and |09 to terminals ||3.

When the position of the stepped cam is such that roller |06 rests on the concentric portion of this cam, contacts |08 and |09 are'held out of engagement. .As cam 10 rotates, a point is reached at which roller |06 is free to move upward toward the cut-away or stepped portion of the cam, thereby closing contacts |08 and |09. As was described in connection with Fig. 1, these contacts are in parallel with the switching device or thermostat which also controls the energization of the electromagnet. The time during which these contacts remain in engagement is determined by the adjusted position of screw H0, which screw controls the extent of movement o'f roller |06 toward the cut-away portion of the cam, the portion shown being so shaped that the contacts will be moved out of engagement in from one .to fifteen minutes depending' upon the adjusted initial raised position of the periodic contact arm |05, it being assumed that .the cam. 10 is driven at a speed of one revolution `per hour.

In Fig. 10, the parts are shown in the positions reached when cam 69 is in its lowermost position, contacts |018 and- |09 being held out of engage-, ment-by the stepped cam. In Fig. 11 roller |06 has just been raised in toward the cut-away portion of cam 10,thereby closing contacts |08 and |09 with the result that, the electromagnetlthus being energized, arm 80 will also be raisedy by the continued movement of cam 69, thereby closing the stoker motor contacts. In Fig. 12 the parts are shown in -their latched positions, the elec` tromagnet being energized. It is believedthat the operation of the control device shown in Figs. 8 to 12 will now belclear in view of the description of the corresponding device diagrammatically shown in Fig. l. d In the modiedform of the invention shown in Figs. 13 and 14, means have been added to the structure shown in Figs. 8-12 whereby a periodic operation of the Stoker is prevented in the event that the same ha's`been automatically operated in accordancefwith the heating requirements during a cycle preceding the normal period. The same numerals have been assigned to those parts which are identicalvwith those shown in Figs. 8-12, the modified parts having been assigned numerals which are greater by 100 than those of the corresponding parts in Figs. 8-12.

The arm 205, actuated by the stepped cam |10, is provided with a frontwardly extending lug |20, cooperable with which is a pawl |2| pivoted on a screw |22 threaded in the base. Movement of the pawl is limited by stop pins |23 and |24, a spring |25 urging the pawl into either of these ipositions. For the actuation of the pawl there is provided a rod |26, pivoted at its upper end on the pawl and slidable at its lower end in an opening in a boss |21 formed on the upper surface of arm |80. A spring |28, compressed between the boss and an enlarged portion |29 of held' against movement under conditions to be described hereinafter. V d

If, while the arm 205, through its roller 208, is in engagement with the concentric surface of cam |10, arm |80 is moved upward, the pawl is thrown to the .left (as shown in Fig. 14), its movement in this' direction being unimpeded. The pawl will then remain in this position until it is returned to its original position shown in Fig. 13 by means hereinafter to be described.

When cam |10 now `reaches a position in which arm 205 would normally be free to move upward toward the stepped portion of cam |10, such movement is prevented by the engagement of, the right-hand portion |30 of the pawl with the lug |20. Closure of contacts 208 and 209, which in this modification have been larranged below alright-hand extension of the arm, is thus prevented. If upward movement of arm |80 should now occur, it will have no effect upon the pawl.

Upon continued rotation of cam |10, a pin 13| secured to the front surface of this cam, engages the left-hand portion |32 of the pawl, and'on further movement trips the pawl back to the position shown in Fig. 13. When this occurs, roller 206 is again in engagement withthe concentric surface of cam |10 so that contacts 208 and 209 are open. It is thus seen that if arm |00, due to energization of the electromagnet, has been moved upward to close the stoker motor contacts at any part of the cycle previous to the normal periodic or hourly operation of the stoker,such operation is prevented and cannot occur until cam |10 has made a complete additional rotation.

In the event that the `pawl has notbeen thrown to its locking position shown in Fig. 14 before cam |10 reaches the position at which periodic operation of the stoker is called for, arm 205 can rise to its contact-closing position shown in broken lines in Fig. 13, in which position the portion |30 of the pawl is below the.

` lug 20. Thus, when arm |80 is now moved up- 4is free to move.

While I hade herein shown and described spe-'- ciilc embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that modifications vmay be made without departing from the spirit of the linvention, and that I intend therefore to be lim-A ited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1.j In a control device: a first and a second independently movable member; means for periodically moving said first member in one direcdirection away from it; said second member being biased away from said first member to a first position; means for causing said second member to be moved against the force of said bias to a the rod, normally eiects actuation of the pawl by movement of arm |80, but also permits up- Ward movement of arm when the pawl is second position along with said first member 'when the same is moved in said other direction,

said last-named means comprising electromagnetic means associated with the members and effective only when the members are rst brought into proximity with each other and the electromagnetic means is energized; `rmeans for preventing substantial subsequent movement of said first member by said periodic means when said secaasaaoo 5. In a control device: a rst a second independently movable member; electromagnetic means including a core element and an amature element, one of said elements being mounted on said first member and the other bias to a second position along with said iirst i member when the same is moved in said other direction, said last-named means, comprising electromagnetic means associated with the members and eiective only. when the members are rst'brought into proximity with each other and the electromagnetic means is energized; means operated in response to theV combined movement A of said members,in which movement said second member is moved to its second position, for preventing substantial subsequent-movement ot said iirst member by said periodicmeans; and control means operated by the movement of said second member.

3. In a control device: a iirst and a second independently movable member; electromagnetic means including a core element andan armature element, one of said elements being connected to said iirst member and the other to said second member; mechanical means for periodically moving said iirst member in one direction toward said second member, so that said elements engage each other, and in an opposite direction away from it; said core, when energized, being adapted to magnetically 'hold said armature when the elements are brought intoengagement with each other so that by subsequent movement of said iirst member in said opposite direction said second member Y' is moved therewith;

means responsive to said movement of saicl'secon said second member; continuously operated cam means for periodically moving said iirstl member in one direction toward said second member, so that said elements engage each other. and in an opposite direction away from it; said core, when energized, being adapted tomagnetically hold said armature when the elements /are brought into engagement with each other.

so that by subsequent movement-ofy said first member in said opposite direction4 said second member is moved therewith; a latch engageable with said rst member whenthe same'is in its sition upon deenergization of said core, thereby permitting resumption of movement of said first member; and control means operated by the movement of said second member.

4. In a control device: a rst and a second independently movable member; electromagnetic means including a core element andan armature element, one of said elements being mounted on said iirst member and the otherl on said second member; continuously operated cam means for periodically moving said rst member in one direction toward said second member, so that said elements engage each other, and in an opposite direction away from it; said core, when enfective only when said second. member is then magnetically held in engagement with the ilrst member; means so biasing said second member that it is returned to its unmoved position upon deenergization of said core, thereby rendering vsaid latch means ineirective to prevent movement of said first member by said c am means:

oppositely moved position vto prevent substantial subsequent movement thereoif; means on saidsecond member li'or holding said latch out of engagement with said iirst member and effective only when the second member is in its unmoved position; means biasingsaid second member to its unmoved position; and control means operated by the movement of said second mem- I member; cam means for periodically moving said rst member in one direction toward said second member, so that said elements engage each other, and in an opposite direction away from it; said core, when energized, being adapted to magnetically hold said armature when the elements are brought into engagement with each other so that by subsequent movement of said first memberin said opposite direction said second member is moved therewith; a continuously operated motor; means, including a slip-clutch, .connecting said motor to said cam-means to normally drive the same, saidl slip-clutch permitting said cani means to stall when the same is subjected to a predetermined load; vcontrol means' operated by the movement Vof said second member; and meansfbiasing said second member to its normal .unmoved position. y

7. In a control device:v a iirst anda second independently movable `member; 'electromagnetic means including a core element and an when the elements are brought-into engagement with each other so that by subsequentmovement of said first member in said opposite direction said second member is moved therewith; an

' electrically operated motor for driving said cam WnmAMa. RAY.

'Y 5 and control Ameans operated by the movement vof said second member. 

